Big data means big opportunities

Data analytics is an emerging, 21st-century technology related to the explosion of big data. With more information available about consumer behavior and the ability to track operations, businesses are looking for professionals who can assemble that information and turn it into an asset.

A major impediment to the widespread use of big data is the lack of workers with the appropriate training and skills. The McKinsey Global Institute has estimated that by 2018 there will be a need for 140,000 to 190,000 skilled professionals to fill the demand for deep analytical talent.

That gap represents opportunity for anyone with the highly desirable, in-demand skills required of data analysts. Those skills come with a bump in pay over the average income earned by workers in the state of Florida ($19.49 per hour). In fact, the average income of a data professional is about double that wage.

Miami Dade College responded quickly to this opportunity for South Floridians by being the first educational institution in the state to offer an undergraduate degree in data analytics. The School of Engineering and Technology’s new big data program pathway launched in Spring 2017 to address the growing demand for skilled professionals who can identify, analyze, interpret and present the volumes of data that are available to organizations.

“Data science and analytics has been identified as a field where the shortfall in the workforce will be in the hundreds of thousands,” said Antonio Delgado, dean of MDC’s School of Engineering and Technology, citing a McKinsey & Co. report that forecast nearly 200,000 vacancies nationwide in the field by 2018. “The effect of this gap in related fields such as information technology and cybersecurity will be threefold.”

Information accumulates quickly and in vast amounts. This requires those who analyze the data to be able to know what information is relevant and to present it in visual, easily digestible ways for stakeholders to make the best possible decisions for their business. This could mean creating real time dashboards to report on digital ad campaigns or using graphs and pie charts to efficiently identify areas where a business could cut expenses.

MDC has developed a cross-disciplinary curriculum that teaches students to apply data mining methods and statistical tools to resolve business questions and make recommendations that effectively support tactical and strategic objectives. Additionally, the Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics meets the general bachelor’s degree requirements for acceptance into most masters programs.

Data scientists, business intelligence analysts, and database warehouse specialists help businesses find their customers, streamline operations, and adapt to changing markets. The need for data analysts to prepare and analyze large data sets exists across all modern industries.

In South Florida, there are currently more than 2,000 employed business intelligence analysts with an expected growth of 6 percent over the next four years. There are more than 6,000 employed computer systems analysts with an expected increase of 11.6 percent over the same time period. This is just a small sampling of the positions available in the South Florida market. Many of the employees are over 55 and expected to retire, which means companies will be hiring for current positions and new openings based on growth.

Miami Dade College prides itself on creating relationships with South Florida industry partners, including NextEra Energy, Siemens Energy, the Business Higher Education Forum, Oracle, SAS and Accenture. These partnerships allow them to tailor programs based on the real needs of businesses and organizations that will be evaluating potential new hires. Other local partners include Miami-Dade County, Miami Children’s Hospital, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS).

Graduates of the program will not only put themselves on a lucrative professional path. They will be in a position to make an impact on businesses and the South Florida community.